An Update From the Yemen War: A discussion with the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies' Farea Al-Muslimi and Spencer Osberg

November 8, 2018, 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

"Yemenis have paid a heavy price for this war. The war has made life a more difficult choice than death. It is time for international and regional actors to join together for peace instead of war."

Caught in a web of regional interests and incommensurable quagmire, Yemen is at the heart of a bloody and complex war. Farea Al-Muslimi, chairman and co-founder of Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, and Spencer Osberg, chief editor at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies, visited Yemen in September and will provide a snapshot of the situation on the ground, while also discussing the most recent developments.

The collapsing local currency has pushed millions more towards famine while Western arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition have fuelled the conflict. What is the way forward? Can the possible suspension of these sales over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi lead to change? Are peace negotiations possible?

Farea Al-Muslimi is chairman and co-founder of Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies.

Before joining Chatham House, he worked at both Carnegie Middle East Center and the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. where his research and work focused on Yemen and the Gulf.

Al-Muslimi’s writings and analysis on Yemen and the wider region have been published in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The New York Times, The Independent, The Guardian, McClatchy, The National, Al-Hayyat, Assafir, Al-Monitorand many other publications.

In 2013, Foreign Policynamed Al-Muslimi in its list of “Top 100 Global Thinkers,” and in 2014 The Guardiannamed Al-Muslimi in its “Top 30 under 30” list of young leaders in digital media around the world.

In August 2016, the UN General Secretary appointed Al-Muslimi to the Advisory Group of Experts for Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security, a study mandated by Security Council resolution 2250 to examine the positive contribution of youth to peace processes and conflict resolution and effective responses at local, national, regional and international levels.

Spencer Osberg

Spencer Osberg is chief editor at the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. He has worked with various institutes and non-governmental organizations to produce socio-economic, political, humanitarian and security-related studies on the Middle East and North Africa.

Osberg was previously the managing editor of Executive Magazinein Beirut. As a journalist, he reported for media outlets including Al Jazeera English, CBC Radio, France 24, The Globe and Mail, Nikkeinewspapers, and he is co-writer of the award-winning documentary film The War Show.

Spencer holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of King’s College. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts double major in philosophy and Spanish from Dalhousie University.